Confusion reigns

WHO'S behind these anthrax attacks and how much material do they have? As New Scientist went to press, the US agencies handling the attacks still had no answers. One thing, though, was crystal clear: they were doing a stunning job of confusing themselves and everyone else about the nature of the anthrax and the kinds of people and organisations who might have the wit to get hold of it or make it.

It started with officials nonsensically claiming the first victim could have got inhalation anthrax by drinking water in the woods. Then came confusion about the type of anthrax involved. FBI officials say it's the American Ames strain, yet, bizarrely, their headquarters is still refusing to confirm this. Most worryingly, numerous hawks on Capitol Hill have been spinning the line that the sophisticated "weaponisation" of the anthrax in the letters justifies bombing Iraq. Yet it is impossible to find ...

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